Sign flasher



J. C. ARNOLD.

SIGN FLASHER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29, I9I9.

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Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

gmc/wim James fzvolc J. C. ARNOLD.

SIGN FLASHER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29. I9I9.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

a d z 0 II ,l -|`I. 11. .E.. I I o m 1:: II I 0 z 3 l E w EIN z I l D 1 4 u e e Z l- 5 1 1 I: 1 6 o (m/ 6 Q4 Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

UNITED STATES .Turns e. ARNOLD, or SEATTLE, wASmNo'rN.

SIGN FLAsHE'n.

Application led November 29, 1919. Serial No. 841,438.

@he object of m invention is to produce a device which wil do this work and which is simple and chea in construction and one which is also relia le in its operation.

v The features of my invention which I be. lieve to be novel and upon which I desire to secure a patent will be described in the specication and then particularly defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention in .the form of construction which I now prefer to use.

Fig. 1 is a section taken lengthwise through one form of my device showing the load switch as closed.

Fig.2 is a similar view of the same parts but showing the switches as open.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing the type of construction employed in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections through a device embodying my invention but varying slightly in construction from that Shown in Figures 1 and 2, the said Figures 4 and 5 showing the parts respectively in closed and opened; positions of the switches.

Fig. 6 isa wiring diagram of the construction shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The device which is the Subj ect of this invention employs a plurality of solenoids which are associated with mechanisms and operated in such a manner that they continuously and automatically act to make and break the electric circuits, and also to pro` duce a suiiicient delay between the acts of making and breaking the circuit, as to provide the time interval desired between such,

two solenoids 1 and 2 are used. These Sole v noids are shown as connected in series in a shunt circuit. f It is evident however, that these two Solenoids may be connected in parallel in shunt circuits. The essential feature-is that they be so associated that the current supplied thereto is controlled by a common switch, or at least so as tobe operated simultaneously, so that when the curl rent is su lied to, or cut olf from, one of the solenoi s, the same is done to the current of the other solenoid.

The wire 10 is, a portion of a shunt circuitv which supplies the solenoids.

these two wires 10 and 20, is included the wires which form the coils of the two solenoids 1 and 2. Inv the circuit of the solenoids is included a bridge or switch member 11, which is conveniently made inthe form of. a disk of conducting material, which is adapted to connect the two resilient conductors 12, which conductors are connected with the binding posts 13, placed in the circuit of the solenoid coils. In the position shown in Figure 1, the disk 11 is in contact with the resilient fingers 12 and the solenoid circuit is closed. In Figure 2 the disk 111 has been raised so as to break the circuit.

The wire 20 1s another part'of the same circuit. Between The disk 11 which forms the bridge mem-4 to break the contact and to maintain the diskl and the core 14 which is connected therewith in raised position, if there be no current on the solenoid coil. The solenoid 1 is however, of such strength that it is able to overcome -the action of the spring 15, and to hold the bridge disk 11 down, so as to close the circuit when' the solenoid 1 is energized.

The solenoid 2 is of such-strength that it is capable, when energized, and acting in con` junction with the spring 15, to overcome the action of the solenoid 1 and to raise the bridge piece 11, and thus to break the sole-- noid circuit. When once broken, the Spring 15 is of sufficient strength to maintain broken, or in open condition, until an additional force is applied acting to close the circuit.

The core 26 of the solenoid 2 has an extension rod 21, which rod extends upward and through the core 14 of the solenoid 1.

Toaccommodate this, the core 14 has been made as a tube. The rod 21 has two'tappets, 22 and 23, secured thereto and located respectively below and above the core 14. The tappet disk 22 4contacts with the lower end of the core14 when the core 26 is drawn within its coil. In consequence of the greater strength of the lower solenoid 2, the action of the solenoid 1 is overcome and the circuit is broken by lifting the disk 11.

At this point the tappet 23, which is above the disk 11, is separated therefrom by a material distance. The core 26 is also within a tube 24 which is filled with a liquid,\as oil. In consequence, the drop of the core 26 is delayed, causing a material time interval to elapse before the tappet 23 engages the disk 11. When this occurs however, the

disk 11 'will be brought downward, thev `spring 15 compressed and contact made with t e terminal fingers 12 and the solenoid circuit closed. This action goes on continuously, resulting in alternate' opening and closing of the solenoid circuit.

The two lead wires 3 and 30, shown at the bottom of the device, form a p art of the load circuit which it is desired to control by this device.` These wires connect with two binding posts 4 and 40, which form terminals for this circuit and are contained within the casing 5, within which the entire device is enclosed. This casing is shown as lsupplied with oil for insulating purposes.

A disk 41 surrounds the tube 24 and is Jf'ree to move up and down around the same. This disk is preferably composed of two layers, an upper layer 42, which is of magnetic material, and a lower layer 43, which is a good conductor. While Il prefer to use this combination of two metals, as iron and copper, this is not strictly essential to thev operation of my device. It is essential to the operation of the device when of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, that a portion, at least, of this disk be of magnetic material. The core 26 of the lower-solenoid, when said solenoid is energized, becomes a magnet and as it is drawn upward, it acts magnetically upon the disk 42 to carry it along. In consequence, it will raise this disk off of the terminals 4 and 40,l thus breaking the load circuit. It will also act to hold this disk raised, so long as the solenoid circuit is closed and the solenoids are energized.

To further assist in maintaining this when raised, I havev shown rods 50, of'which any suitable number may be employed, these extending outsideof the solenoid cores and having ends 51, which are bent under, so as to contact with the disk 42 when the latter is raised. If these be made of soft iron they become temporary magnets and act to hold the disk 42 raised, so long as the solenoids are energized. They however, lose their holding power as soon as the solenoid circuit is broken.

The type of construction shown in Fig ures 4 and 5 is the same as that of Figures 1 and 2, except for the means for control ling the load circuit switch. This means, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, consist of a third solenoid 6, lofwhich the core 60 is directly connected with a disk 61, which forms the bridge piece, this solenoid being connected either in series or in parallel, as desired, with the solenoids 1 and 2. As illustrated it is shown as connected in series with the other solenoids. I have also shown a spring 62, as interposed between the disk 61 and the head 62 of the lower solenoid.. This spring Willassist in producing a prompt return of the bridge disk 61 when the solenoids are de-energized.

I prefer to employ a partition, as 63, in the tube 24 into which the cores of the solenoids enter, in order to free the core of the lower solenoid from the dash pot action which it is desired to use in connection with the core of the second' solenoid 2. The core 60 may be made hollow so as to entirely free it from any dash pot action.

It is believed that the operation of the device is evident without further detailed description. The solenoid circuit is closed by the gravity action of the core 26 of the second solenoid. It is opened by the attraction of the solenoid upon its core. The movement of the core in both directions is slowed down by the dash pot action of the core in the tube 24. In consequence, there would be a period of time when the current is on, and another period of time when itis off, these following continuously each other.

What AI claim as my invention is 1. A current-make-and-break device comprising a solenoid, a solenoid circuit, a switch controlling said solenoid circuit, means for operating said switch by the solenoid core,l load circuit terminals, a switch for the load circuit terminals and a magnetic opening-and-closing member for said load switch actuated to open the switch by the magnetic attraction thereon o the solenoid core.

2. A.' current-make-and-break device comprising a solenoid, a solenoid circuit, a switch controlling said solenoid circuit, means for operating said switch by the solenoid core, load circuit terminals, a switch for the load circuit terminals and having a magnetic opening-and-closing member surroundin the projecting end of the solenoid core an magneticall moved thereby to break the load circuit when the core is drawn into the coil.

3. A current-make-and-break device, comprising a solenoid, a solenoid circuit, a. switch Acontrolling said solenoid circuit,

means for operating said switch by the solenoid core, load circuit terminals at opposite sides of the solenoid core, a oating magnetic disk surrounding the solenoid core and acting as a switch for said terminals.

4. A current-make-and-break device comprising a solenoid, a solenoid circuit, a switch controlling said solenoid circuit, means for operating said switch by the solenoid core, load circuit terminals, a switch for the load circuit terminals and a magnetic opening-and-closing member for said load switch actuated to open the switch by the magnetic attraction thereon of the sole* noid core, and fixed bars energized by the solenoid coil to magnetically hold said opening-and-closing member in open position.

5. A current-make-and-break device, comprising a solenoid, a solenoid circuit, a switch controlling said solenoid circuit, means for operating said switch by the solenoid core, load circuit terminals, a switch for the load circuit terminals and a magnetic opening-and-closing member for said load switch actuated to open the switch by the magnetic attraction thereon of the solenoid core, and magnetizable bars energized by the solenoid core and engaged by the said opening-and-closing member when in open position to support it in such open position until the coil is de-energized.

6. A flasher having a solenoid adapted to both open and close its own circuit, a yielding means of less power acting to maintain an open circuit, load circuit terminals and a bridge piece of magnetic material adapted to connect said terminals, and means whereby the solenoid core acts magnetically to lift the bridgepiece from its terminals.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 13th day of October, 1919.

JAMES C. ARNOLD. 

